March is proving to be a good month at the pump, according to the latest AAA report issued Monday.

After rising for 40 days in a row, the national average price for regular gasoline has fallen for just over nine days straight to an average of $2.42 per gallon, the automobile club report showed.

Although California motorists continue to pay the highest pump prices across the nation, Visalia prices Wednesday were down by 10 cents, according to AAA.

On March 7, the price of a gallon of regular was around $3.32; on Wednesday it averaged $3.22. A year ago in this area, the price was $3.88.

Gas prices might continue to drop due to a number of reasons, including the steep decline in the cost of crude oil.

“The price of oil is so cheap right now,” said Marie Montgomery, spokeswoman with the Automobile Club of Southern California. “It was at its lowest point in six years.”

Experts reported Wednesday that markets in California should be getting gas below three dollars a gallon at the pump fairly quickly.

“Because wholesale prices have dropped 76 cents since Feb. 25,” Montgomery said. “If the trend continues, we are going to see some very rapid price changes.”

Eric Duran, 37, of Porterville said each of his construction jobs are dependent upon the gas prices. He stopped at the Four Seasons Handy Market gas station on N. Giddings Street Wednesday for lunch.

Duran has two trucks, a Ford F-150 and Ford F-250, which he alternates between jobs.

“One truck has racks and bins on the side and it costs me about $40 to travel back and forth, versus my smaller commute truck, it costs me about $20,” he said. “I’m hoping the prices will stay down. It will help me and it will help the clients.”

Gas prices are an even bigger deal to Visalia resident Jenny Real, who said she’s on a fixed income. On Wednesday the price of gas was at $2.95 at Four Seasons. Last month it cost her $58 to fill up her Ford van. On Wednesday it took $49.

“Being on a fixed income, I pay attention to all my spending,” she said. “The prices have been going down again, and then they went up, and all of a sudden down again.”

Real said as long as the prices continue to fall or stay at a reasonable price, she can plan a trip to visit her family in Simi Valley.

Four Seasons owner Mike Means said there are too many factors that play a role in pricing that he can never predict what’s going to happen.